Week 5 Reading Reflection

1) What was the biggest surprise for you in the reading? In other words, what did you read that stood out the most as different from your expectations? 

Proprietary. When I looked at companies like Apple, I always wondered why they have so many devices that have proprietary parts and they aren't conforming to what other companies are using. After reading this section, it makes a lot of sense. Apple uses this to their advantage to take their devices to another level that isn't obtainable currently with what the other companies are using. They will need to innovate and find a way of accomplishing the same task as Apple but by that time Apple will control the market.


2) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

Nothing in the reading seemed confusing. A lot of this I have gone over before and the rest is mostly common sense.


3) If you were able to ask two questions to the author, what would you ask? Why?

Is there ever a time that you should rush production in order to have the first item of its' kind on the market to create a following? I feel that in very specific cases, the first person to the market will control it. Many will see others as "knock-offs" and not hop on board, even if it means the first generation of the product isn't as effective.

What is the best way to go about obtaining adequate capital in the early stages of development? A lot of entrepreneurs fall short at this step and don't ever take off because they couldn't acquire capital even though they have a somewhat profitable idea.


4) Was there anything you think the author was wrong about? Where do you disagree with what she or he said? How?

I don't necessarily agree with the author that the product has to always be completed 100% before going to market. Look at the first iPhone for example. When it was first shown, over 90% of the phone wasn't functional and there were specific actions that had to be completed in a set order to make it work. They rushed the device but achieved market control and continue to hold the market to this day.